Oklahoma is home to more than 3.8 million people and the 27th and 47th largest cities in the U.S.—Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Although the state has several cities with a population of more than 100,000, the largest two offer the liveliest arts and culture scenes. Oklahoma—the state’s largest city, is home to major art museums and centers such as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA), the International Photography Hall of Fame & Museum, and City Arts Center. Tulsa—the state’s second largest city, is home to the Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Cain’s Ballroom, and dozens of art museums and galleries such as Philbrook Museum of Art and Gilcrease Museum.

Computer, console, and even arcade games are so popular that experts in the field predict that the gaming industry will generate than $68 billion in business in 2012 alone. The gaming industry is growing so fast that more than 65 percent of U.S. households play video games and 2 out of 5 are female. Because the average age of a gamer today is 32, the average customer has more money to spend on high-end games. They also demand more, which is why the industry now employs more than 200,000 innovative game designers along with hundreds of talented animators, cover artists, testers, illustrators, programmers, and more.

Oklahoma is home to 60 Title IV degree-granting colleges and universities. Title IV schools are eligible for federal financial aid programs because they have met five requirements established by the U.S. Department of Education. To claim Title IV status, the school must (1) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (2) be in business for at least 2 years, (3) sign a participation agreement with the Department, (4) grant an associate's degree or higher, and (5) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length.

Our 2015 rankings of the Top 10 schools for game design and development in the Southwest US. We define the Southwest as Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.

1. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

The University of Utah is home to 31,000 students enrolled in close to 100 undergraduate programs and more than 90 graduate programs. Founded in 1850, the University of Utah houses 17 colleges and schools, and close to 100 departments. The College of Engineering and the College of Fine Arts offer the Entertainment Arts and Engineering Master Games Studio (EAE:MGS). Tracks include Arts, Engineering, Technical Arts, and Production. According to the Studio, “all students in each of the tracks have a series of common classes including Game Design, Rapid Prototyping, Pre-Production, and Final Project.” In addition, students will “develop and enhance a professional game portfolio” and they will have the opportunity to complete an internship in the game industry.